Resiliently-cushioned printing-frame for photoprinting-cabinets.



J. P. WARE.

BESILIENTLY GUSHIONED PRINTING FRAME FOB PHOTOPRINTING CABINETS.

APPLICATION FILED JUIE 28, 1909.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

2 SHEETS-811E121 1.

J. P. WARE. BESILIENTLY GUSHIONED PRINTING FRAME FOR PHOTOPRINTING CABINETS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1909.

966,499. Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

I i i 2 HERE-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. WARE, 01? DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ARNOLD A.

- BOWI-IAY, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

RESILIEN'ILY-CUSHION ED PRINTING-FRAME FOR PHOTOPRINTING-CAIBINETS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. WARE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Resilient-lyCushioned Printing- Frame for Photoprinting-Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in photo-printing frames, and the objects of my invention are: First, to provide a printing frame for photo-printing cabinets, which is resiliently mounted relatively to said cabinet. Second, to provide a printing frame for photo-printing cabinets and the like that acts in combination with a shutter to press and clamp the sensitized paper and negatives with a constant resilient holding pressure. And third, to provide a printing frame that is resiliently cushioned to yield under the downward pressure of a printholding shutter, and that also is arranged to bear with an upward resilient pressure against the shutter after the shutter is pressed down upon and latched to the printing frame. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of a photo-printing cabinet, showing the improved printing frame mounted in the top thereof. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cabinet and frame, the printholding shutter being latched against the said frame. Fig. 3 is a sectional View of a portion of the cabinet, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4; is a plan view of the bracket in which the frame cushioning springs are mounted. And Fig. 5 is a rear view, showing the manner of hinging the print-holding shutter, the springs used in connection therewith being omitted.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1, designates a photo-printing cabinet, which is mounted on legs 2. This cabinet is provided with doors 3, which afford access to the interior of the cabinet, in which mechanism for automatically releasing the printholding shutter may be placed; but I do not illustrate the shutter releasing mech anism, as my invention appertains only to the printing frame, as it is 'called, upon which the sensitized printing paper and the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 28, 1909.

Patented A11 9, 1910.

Serial No. 504,773.

negatives are placed, and my invention contemplates the application of my'improved printing frame to any kind or character of photo-printing machines.

A light chamber 4, is attached to one end of the cabinet and is designed to be furnished with a suitable printing light.

The top of the cabinet is provided with a rectangular opening 5, in which is supported a printing frame 6, which is hinged at its rear end to the top of the cabinet. A shutter is hinged to the rear end of the frame 6, adjacent to its connection with the cabinet, and this shutter comprises preferably two plates 7 and 8, although only one plate may be used if desired, but as two plates make a better contact with the sensitized paper than one plate, I will describe two plates in connection with my invention. These two plates are provided upon their adjoining edges with apertured lugs 9 and 10 respectively, through which passes a rod 11, which connects the two plates in hinged relation. This rod is encircled by the oppositely coiled portions of a spring 12, the ends of which are secured in apertures in the lugs 10, while the connecting portion of the two coils is formed into a loop 13, which is secured to the forward plate 7 by a screw 14. The tension exerted by the spring 12, is suflicient to normally hold the plate 7, at an angle to the plate 8, and this angle is defined by a stop lug 15, on one of the lugs 9, which engages the adjoining lug 10. The printing frame is rectangular in form, to correspond to the opening in the top of the cabinet, and is slightly smaller than said opening, to prevent binding. Upon the rear end of the frame is secured a metal plate 16, having a pair of apertured lugs 17, adjacent to each end. An eye bolt 18 is placed between each pair of lugs and a rod 19 is passed through the lugs and bolts. The plate 8 of the print holding shutter is provided at its rear end with lugs 20, having vertical apertures through which the eye bolts 18 pass. Coil springs 21 encircle the bolts and rest upon the lugs 20, and these springs are held under tension by nuts, which are screwed upon the ends of the bolts.- Coil springs 22 en circle the rod 19, and the forward end of each spring is secured in an apertured lug 23, near the front edge of the plate, while the opposite ends of the springs engage the plate 16. The tension exerted by the springs 22 normally holds the shutter up and away from the frame, and when the shutter is pressed down upon a glass plate 24, which is supported in the frame flush with its upper face, and upon which the photographic negatives and sensitized paper are placed, its member 8 will first contact with the glass plate, and the member 7 will contact immediately afterward. The under sides of the shutter members are provided with felt pads 25, which insure an even pressure upon the plate 24, and the springs 21 permit the shutter to adjust itself to the thickness of the material beneath it, so that the pressure on the said material is uniform throughout. The forward end of the frame 6 is normally held at a slight elevation above the top of the cabinet by headed rods 26, which pass through vertical socketed lugs 27, which are secured to the top of the cabinet, and upon the under side of the same, adjacent to the forward edge of the opening 5. Coil springs 28 are interposed between the heads of the rods and the bottoms of the sockets, and similar springs 29 are interposed between the lower ends of the socketed lugs and nuts 30, upon the lower portion of the rods, which may be adjusted to vary or regulate the tension upon the springs, and these rods 26, form yielding or cushion supports for the forward end of the said frame, the object of which will appear later. The socket lugs 27 may be separate and independent, if desired, but I preferably connect them by an integral bar 27 as shown in Fig. 4, by which the said sockets are secured to the cabinet. I have illustrated a spring operated latch 31, for holding the shutter in engagement with the glass plate 24, but in the practical operation of the printing frame, when used in connection with a photo-printing cabinet, I employ a latch which operates automatically to release the shutter, and which is actuated by a time controlled mechanism, preferably of the character illustrated in an application filed by me on March 29, 1909, Serial No. 486,603.

The under side of the frame 6 is provided with oppositely arranged strips 32, having slideway grooves 33, in which vignetting sheets are placed and supported, and the frame is provided with a knob 34, by which it may be lifted to slide the vignetting sheets into or to remove them from these slideways.

The operation of my improved resilient cushioning printing frame is as follows: In practice an electric or other suitable light is placed within the light chamber 4, and is arranged to throw light up against the glass plate 24. The negatives are then laid upon the plate and a sheet of sensitized paper is laid on the negatives, and the shutter is pressed down upon the paper and glass top and consequently against the frame, which is also pressed down upon the cushioning rods 26, compressing their springs 28, until the shutter is engaged and held by the latch 31, when the springs 29 force the frame up against the shutter, thus preventing any diminution of the pressure upon the negatives and sensitized paper after the knob is released by the operator, thereby insuring a smooth even cushioning light-tight pressure of the printing frame against the shutter after it has been pressed down and locked against the printing frame. The recoil of the shutter, when released from the latch 31, is absorbed by an ordinary pneumatic cushioning cylinder 35.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a cabinet, of a printing frame in the top thereof, an expansive spring secured to said cabinet and arranged to resiliently support one end of said printing frame; a print holding shutter hinged to said frame; and means for normally holding it up, and a latch for said shutter.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a cabinet provided with a table top portion containing an aperture adapted to receive a printing frame, a printing frame fitted loosely in said aperture and hinged at one end to the table portion of said cabinet; a spring secured to the table portion of said cabinet and arranged to engage the free end of said printing frame and arranged to normally and resiliently support and hold its free end above its normal printing position; a twopart print holding shutter hinged to said frame; a latch for holding said shutter in engagement with the frame; and means for throwing the shutter up when the latch is released.

3. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a cabinet; a printing frame in the top of the cabinet and hinged thereto at its rear end; a two part print holding shutter hinged to the rear end of said frame; a latch on the cabinet for holding the shutter when closed; springs for throwing the shutter up, and resilient supports for the forward end of the printing frame.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a cabinet; a printing frame in the top thereof, and hinged at its rear end to the cabinet; resilient supports for the forward end of said frame; a two part padded print-holder hinged to the rear end of said frame; a springoperated latch on the cabinet for said print holder; and means including springs for lifting said two part print holder from said printing frame.

5. The combination with a cabinet, of a printing frame in the top of the cabinet, and

hinged at its rear end to said cabinet; resilient supports for the front end of said frame, and a two part print holding shutter hinged to the rear end of said frame; a spring operated latch for said shutter; resilient means for throwing said shutter open relative to said frame, and means for cushioning the opening movement of said shutter.

6. The combination with a cabinet, of a hinged printing frame in its top; a print holder hinged to said frame; a spring-open ated latch upon said cabinet adapted to engage the forward end of said print holder, said printing frame being provided with a glass plate, and with negative and vignetting holding slideways below said glass plate, resilient means for lifting the shutter from the frame after its latch is released, and cushions for supporting the forward end of the printing frame.

7. In a device as specified, the combination with a fixed support, of a printing frame hinged at one end to said support; resilient abutments upon said support for the opposite end of said frame; a print-holding shutter hinged to said frame; springs for normally holding said shutter away from said frame, and a latch on said fixed support for holding said shutter against said frame.

8. The combination with a fixed support, of a printing frame hinged at its rear end to said support, resilient supports upon the fixed support for the front end of said frame; parallel slideways on the under side of the frame; a hinged spring-operated print holding shutter in cooperative relation to said frame; a latch upon the fixed support for holding said frame when closed; said resilient supports of said printing frame being arranged and adapted to hold said printing frame resiliently against said shutter when said shutter is latched close against it and to said fixed support.

9. The combination with a photo-printing cabinet, of a printing frame hinged at its rear end to said cabinet; a print-holding shutter hinged to said frame, comprising a pair of plates united by a hinge connection; a yielding hinge connection bet-ween the rear end of the rear plate, and the rear end of said frame; springs for lifting said shutter; springs for swinging the forward plate of the shutter upon the rear plate; a latch for holding said shutter down upon the frame, and resilient supports for the front end of the frame, adapted to resiliently press said frame against said shutter when said shutter is locked to said cabinet.

10. The combination with a photo-printing cabinet, of a printing frame mounted in the top of said cabinet and hinged thereto at its rear end; a print-holding shutter hinged to said frame, comprising a pair of plates united by a hinge connection; a spring for lifting the forward plate relatively to the rear plate; apertured lugs on the rear plate; eye bolts pivotally attached to the rear end of the frame, which pass through said apertured lugs; adjusting nuts on the ends of the bolts; springs on said bolts interposed between said apertured lugs, and the nuts, and a spring for raising said shutter; a latch for holding the shutter in contact with the frame; resilient supports for the front end of the frame, and parallel slideways on the under side thereof for supporting vignetting sheets.

11. In a device as specified, the combination with a fixed support of a printing frame hinged at one end to said support; springcushioned rods upon said fixed support for supporting the forward end of said frame; a print holding shutter hinged to said frame; springs for normally holding said shutter away from said frame, and a latch on said fixed support for holding said shutter in engagement with said frame.

12. In a device as specified, the combination with a fixed support, of a printing frame hinged at its rear end to said support; socketed lugs on the support in line with the front end of the frame; headed rods extending through said lugs; springs interposed between the heads of said rods and the bottoms of said sockets; nuts upon the lower ends of the rods, and springs interposed between said nuts and the lower ends of said socketed lugs, said rods forming resilient supports for the front end of said frame; a print holding shutter hinged at its rear end to the rear end of the frame; springs for normally holding said shutter away from the frame and a latch on said fixed support for holding said shutter against said frame.

13. In a device as specified, a support, a printing frame hinged at one end to the support; cushioning devices on the support for the opposite end of the frame; a print holding shutter hinged to the frame; a latch on the support for holding said shutter upon said frame, and springs for lifting said shutter away from the frame when the latch is released.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J AMES F. AKE.

WVitnesses ARNOLD A. BOWHAY, RICHARD H. GODDARD. 

